SAN FRANCISCO, CA — San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced today that the Honorable Judge McNaughton sentenced Joseph Stevens (42) to two consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole, each followed by a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison after he was convicted in a trial by jury for a 2005 double murder. Mr. Stevens was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder each with allegations of personal use of a firearm causing great bodily injury or death, as well as the multiple murder special circumstance for the murders of Dernae Wysinger (22) and Naemon Wysinger (2). Mr. Stevens was sentenced to 3 years for assault with a firearm on Jazmanika R.
“The retraumatization that this family experienced after the overturning of Mr. Steven’s original conviction after 16 years was unimaginable,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “It took immeasurable courage by the victim and other witnesses to relive this horrifying tragedy and ensure that he was held accountable. The sentence imposed by the court illustrates the gravity of this offense – which included the murder of a two-year old little boy, the callousness of this crime and Mr. Steven’s lack of remorse. My office will continue fighting on behalf of victims of crime in the courtroom to ensure justice is served.”
According to testimony and other evidence presented at trial, on October 14, 2005, Joseph Stevens opened fire on Dernae Wysinger, Jazmanika R. and Jazmanika’s two-year-old son Naemon. They had just arrived at a family member’s house when Mr. Stevens approached with a high-powered rifle and fired 18 shots at their parked vehicle. Dernae was killed immediately, while Naemon succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at San Francisco General Hospital. Ms. Ridout was injured in the shooting but survived.
For the two first-degree special circumstance murders of Dernae Wysinger and Naemon W., Judge McNaughton sentenced the Defendant to two consecutive LWOP sentences, each to be followed by 25-life. According to Judge McNaughton during the sentencing hearing, he ran them consecutive to each other to respect the dignity of each life. On the assault with a firearm on Jazmanika R., he sentenced the defendant to 3 years (midterm) and struck the PC 12022.5(a) enhancement in the interest of justice.
The case against Mr. Stevens was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Aaron Laycook and former Assistant District Attorney (now Honorable Judge) Justine Cephus, with assistance from District Attorney Investigators Molly Braun, Gino Guerrero, Douglass Keeley and Glenn Pon and paralegals Jessica Diamond, Julio Flores Guzman. Victim Advocates Samantha Ellis, Lily Bueno, Dee Dee Tyson, and Ruben Marquez worked closely with the victim’s family through the pendency of this case. The case was solved thanks to the tireless work of the San Francisco Police Department’s Homicide Unit investigators.
“This sentence acknowledges the devastating loss of both Dernae Wysinger and Naemon,” said Assistant District Attorney Aaron Laycook. “We hope the Court’s recognition of that doubled grief restores some sense of justice and peace to Jazmanika R. and their families.”
Court Number: 02239255
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